I am not well-versed in all the styles of poetry, although I am learning about the different forms: ABC, Ballades, Sonnet, Visual, Lyric, etc. I read somewhere that professional poets write poetry that doesn’t rhyme. I have also read that many poets focus on each line of their poems until they reach perfection. I guess that would put me in the “non-professional” realm, as I just write from my heart and don’t stress over every single word. I would hope I continue to grow in this art and my expressions will continue to change; for now, I embrace what I receive from writing and I hope others will see their words as worthy as well.

One of my favorite poets is Robert Frost, I love how simply he writes. His poems don’t usually rhyme, which I think is ok and kind of refreshing. I seem to make all my poetry rhyme, not really intentionally, it just seems to happen.

The Road Not Taken By

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

I admire so many poems written by everyday people as well. I was browsing Pinterest and found some musings worth sharing:

Even

After

All this time

The Sun never says

To the earth,

“You owe me.”

Look

What happens

With a love like that.

It lights the

Whole

Sky.

Written by a 14th Century Sufi Poet Hafiz

And another about perfectionism and fear of abandonment:

you told me to undress

i said, “i don’t know how-

my walls are so high,

i can’t reach around

I’ll start with my buttons-

you go brick by brick

i know it’ll be hard,

i’ve built it up thick

and i’m sorry for wasting

so much of your time

but how can i see your heart

when i can’t even see mine?

and i will talk about life,

and children, and laughter,

the feeling of never getting

what you’ve been after

and i will cry over reasons

that you’ll never find out

and i never really know

what i’m smiling about

and there will be a time

when i know you won’t care

because no one ever stays

when i am finally bare.”

-k.p.k.

Both of these poems, while one is encouraging and the other evokes sadness, ( and frankly makes me really sad for the person) represent how poetry is used in different ways to express a state of mind or an opinion about the world or a personal struggle. The point is, no one has to really love your poetry but YOU. Just as we all aren’t accepted in the world and this is normal, your words will not be understood by everyone. If they help you to heal, they have fulfilled their destiny. In my humble opinion.

Personally, poetry is a way to get my thoughts out on paper in an artful way. I will read back on them and know exactly what I was facing at that time. I also love positive poetry! It seems like a wonderful time in my life can be heightened by putting the feelings I have into a short and concise written form.

What is poetry to you? I would love to hear how you relate to the artful expressions of your thoughts.

***POETRY CONTEST***

ALL SUBMISSIONS DUE BY AUGUST 10TH, 2014

Below, I have posted some pictures my wonderful and talented husband has taken in California & Colorado. Please use these pictures as inspiration and write a poem about one of your choice.

I will pick a WINNER and post your poem on this blog! Please send all submissions to:

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Read & Reflect.

I have read this verse many times & didn’t really understand it’s true meaning until just a few days ago. Upon my sudden enlightenment, I felt inspired to create a place of refuge, an outlet, where poems from the heart can come to life and possibly help another human being.

Poetry has always been a place of safety for me. I don’t always have the words in the moment to express myself, or, the courage…let’s be honest. I needed a place to put it all out there. Form my thoughts into words and my words into something that catapulted me through this life, and eventually DID give me courage. The courage to keep going, one day at a time; one situation at a time.

One hurt at a time.

This blog is for you, His birds. The parakeets, magpies, bluebirds, cranes, crows, cuckoos, ducks, finches, lovebirds, hummingbirds, phoebes, sapsuckers, and so on.

Do you have a voice? Do you enjoy writing poetry or recitations?

Below, I will post some of my poetry to get the ball rolling. I hope you will contact me through this blog at: Thispoetryisforthebirds@gmail.com

Tell me a bit of your story and what you have written. Then, If you are comfortable with it being posted (Half the battle) then it will be. Brutally honest poetry IS accepted here. I will review all submissions before I publish them.

Thank you for having the courage to consider how you can be a light to someone else by sharing your poetry. I thank you in advance.